Cuff links



Dec. 21, 1965 A. BLUMSTEIN 3,224,058

CUFF LINKS Filed NOV. 15, 1963 INVENTOR BY qmmmm 'BLUMSTEAN UnitedStates Patent 3,224,058 CUFF LINKS Abraham Blumstein, 9803 69th Ave,Forest Hills, N.Y. Filed Nov. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 324,067 7 Claims. (Cl.24-97) This invention relates generally to cuff links and moreparticularly to cuff links of the pivoted toggle variety.

One object of this invention is to provide a toggle type cuff linkassembly having a toggle finding for a jewel which is simple inconstruction, and which may be manufactored in large quantities at arelatively low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toggle cuff linkassembly which may easily and quickly be assembled.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollowshell having a peripheral wall and an open top. The peripheral wallincludes opposed longitudinally extending side walls having respectiverectangular slots extending to the bottom edge of the peripheral wall.

As an important feature of the present invention, the upper innersurface of the peripheral wall is partially cut away thereby defining ashelf spaced from the top edge of the peripheral wall and extendinginwardly, circumferentially, about the inner surface thereof. The shelfis adapted to receive the bottom surface of a jewel in abutting relationthereto. A longitudinally extending flexible and resilient blade springis received Within the shell below the shelf and the top of therespective slots and has an integral tab at each end thereof extendingthrough respective slots in the bottom of the shell. The tabs are bentunder the bottom of the shell to secure the blade spring in place.

The present invention also comprises a yoke having a pair of spac d legsconnected by a crossbar at one end. This crossbar is positioned withinthe slots. A longitudinally extending head is fixed to the other end ofthe yoke. Preferably, the crossbar is square in cross-section. A bottomclosure strip, made of thin brass or the like, underlies the crossbarand closes the bottom of the shell; said strip being fixed at its endsto the shell. Thus, the crossbar is clamped frictionally between theclosure strip and the blade spring. Hence, by the application ofappropriate force, the shell may be turned between a position in whichit is aligned with the yoke (for insertion into a cuff) and a positionin which it is perpendicular to the yoke (to hold the cuff link in placeon the cuff). The blade spring and, to a lesser extent, the closurestrip serve as yieldable members to permit this action of the shell.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the drawings i which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toggle bar cuff link made inaccordance with the present invention in which the position of the partsof the cuff link, when in a cuff, is illustrated by the solid lines andthe position of the yoke, when the cuff link is to be inserted into acuff, is shown by the dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the toggle baroperating assembly of the cuff link shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the toggle bar operating assembly made inaccordance with the present invention includes a shell 14 having aperipheral wall 11 comprising the opposing, longitudinally extendingarcuate sides 11a and 11b, and an arcuate bottom wall 13, and an opentop. The outer surfaces of sides 11a and 111: are preferably convex andthe inner surfaces concave while the upper surface of bottom wall 13 isconcave and the lower surface is convex. Each of side walls 11a and 11!;has a respective rectangular slot which is located approximately in thecenter of the side wall. Thus, wall 11a contains slot 14 therei and wall11b contains slot 15 therein. In the preferred embodiment the slots arein alignment and the slots extend to the bottom edge of the respectiveside wall 11a and 11b.

The upper inner surface of peripheral wall 11 is partially cut away tothereby define an inwardly projecting shelf 16. Shelf 16 is spacedbetween the top of slots 14, 15 and the top edge of wall 11 and extendscircumferentially about the inner surface of wall 11. Shelf 16 forms aseat for the bottom surface of a jewel which is received through theopen top, as described below.

The central portion and portions adjacent the ends of wall 13 are cutaway leaving the transverse strips 13a and 131') which are respectivelyconnected to the bottom edges of side walls 11a and 1112. A projection17 and a coplanar projection 19, spaced from the bottom edge ofperipheral wall 11, extend longitudinally from the respective ends ofshell 10 and are connected to side walls 11a and 11b along theirrespective longitudinal edges. Projection 17 terminates before the rightedge of strip 13a, as taken in FIG. 4, to thereby define a slot 18between the end of the projection 17 and the right edge of strip 13a.Similarly, projection 19 terminates before the left edge of strip 13b(as taken in FIG. 4) to thereby define a slot 20 between the end ofprojection 19 and the left edge of strip 13b. Optionally slots 18 and 20will be spaced the same distance from the center of the shell.

Shell 10 is preferably formed from a unitary blank of metal which isoptionally brass.

A toggle 21 is in the form of a U-shaped yoke having an elongated shankportion 22 and a pair of spaced legs 23, 24. Shank 22 is provided withthe notches 25 and 26, extending to the bottom edge of shank 22, forreceiving a longitudinally extending fixed head 27 thereon, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. A crossbar 28, which is optionally of squarecross-section, extends between and is spaced from the ends of legs 23and 24. The spacing between the legs is such that the ends of the legsstraddle shell 10, when the cross-bar is seated within slots 14, 15 ofthe respective shell side Walls 11a, 11b.

A flexible closure strip 29, having the laterally extending projections30 and 31 extending from approximately the middle of the respectivelongitudinal edges of closure strip 29, underlies crossbar 28. Closurestrip 29 also includes the perpendicularly upwardly extending tabs 32and 33 at the respective ends thereof Closure strip 29 is secured inplace with tabs 32 and 33 respectively bent over strips 13a and 13b.Projections 30 and 31 underlie the respective slots 14 and 15 to addadditional support and strength to the connection of the yoke and theshell. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the lowersurface of strip 29 will be flush (i.e., coplanar) with respect to thelower surface of strips 13a and 13b with strip 29 extended across thecentral opening in wall 13.

A blade spring 34, having the downwardly projecting tabs 35 and 36 atthe respective ends thereof, is seated witthin shell 10 with tabs 35 and36 passing through respective slots 20 and 18 and being bent under therespective projections 19 and 17. In the preferred embodiment theprojections 17 and 19 are spaced from bottom wall 13 a distance equal tothe thickness of the tabs so when the tabs are bent under the respectiveprojections the bottom surface of the tabs will be coplanar 3 withbottom wall 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper surface ofblade spring 34 lies well below shelf 16 and the lower surface of bladespring 34 lies below the top of slots 14 and 15 and abuts crossbar 28.Optionally, blade spring 34 will abut the inner surfaces of peripheralwall 11.

Slots 14, 15, the adjacent portion of closure strip 29, projections 30and 31, and the adjacent portion of blade spring 34 thus define atrunnion portion in which the crossbar 28 of the yoke is rotatablysupported.

Closure strip 29 and blade spring 34 are optionally made of brass,However, blade spring 34 may be constructed to flex much more than theclosure strip when the unit is rotated.

A jewel 37, having a fiat lower face and convexly shaped upper face issized and shaped to be received within the open top of shell with thelower edges abutting wall 11 and the lower face seated upon shelf 16.Thus, the portion of peripheral wall 11 above seat 16 may be crimpedover the surface of the jewel to maintain the jewel in place.Additionally, jewel 37 may be secured in place by any means well knownin the art.

The assembly of blades spring 34- and closure strip 29 to the shell issuch that the engagement of the blade spring with crossbar 28 places theblade spring under an initial bending stress. The engagement of tabs 35and 36 with respective projections 19 and 17 maintain the parts inpre-stressed assembled relationship.

Sufficient clearance is provided between crossbar 28 and the walls ofthe respective slots 14 and to permit the relative rotational movementtherebetween. The opening between legs 23 and 24, crossbar 28 and theshank of the yoke is of sufficient size to permit the passage of theends of the shell therethrough during the rotation of the yoke (orshell) about the aforementioned trunnion support. The action of bladespring 34 and closure strip 29 against the edges of the crossbarresiliently and frictionally resists any movement of the shell out ofthose positions in which the shell is parallel to or perpendicular tothe yoke.

When in the proper assembled position with the cuif of a shirt-sleevethe parts are disposed in a position shown by the solid lines of FIG. 1,with the cuff interposed between the movable head comprising shell 10and fixed head, 27. When it is desired to remove the cufi link shell 10is rotated to a position relative to the yoke as indicated by the solidlines of shell 10 and the dashed lines of yoke 21 and fixed head 27 ofFIG. 1. In this position the shell 10 may easily pass through theopenings in the shirt sleeves whereupon it may be rotated back to aposition normal to the yoke.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will becomeobvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall having top and bottom edges and being sized and shapedto receive said jewel therein through said open top and having inwardseat means for reception of the bottom of said jewel, said peripheralwall having opposing longitudinally extending sides having respectiveslots extending to one out of the top and bottom edges of saidperipheral wall, a bottom closure for said peripheral wall having acentral opening and having longitudinally spaced bottom closure slotswith said side slots longitudinally between said bottom slots, alongitudinally extending blade spring within said shell below said seatand extending between said bottom slots and having tabs respectivelyextended through said bottom slots and bent under said bottom closure, alongitudinally extending closure stripin said central opening, and ayoke having legs on each side of said shell and a crossbar extendingbetween said legs, said bar substantially square in cross-section, saidbar. extending through said side slots and between and in turnable andresiliently clamped relationship with said spring and said bottomclosure.

2. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall sized and shaped to receive said jewel therein throughsaid open top and having inwardly projecting seat means spaced from thetop edge of said peripheral wall for reception of the bottom of saidjewel, said peripheral wall having opposing longitudinally extendingsides having respective slots extending to the bottom edge of saidperipheral wall, the top of said slots being spaced a predetermineddistance below said seat means, a bottom closure for said peripheralwall having a central opening and having, longitudinally spaced bottomclosure slots with said side slots centered longitudinally between saidbottom slots, a longitudinally extending blade spring within said shellbelow the top of said side slots and extending between said bottom slotsand having tabs respectively extended through said bottom slots and bentunder said bottom closure, a relatively flexible, longitudinallyextending closure strip in said central opening, a yoke having legs oneach side of said shell and a crossbar extending between said legs, saidcrossbar being non-circular in cross-section, said bar extending throughsaid side slots and between and in turnable and resiliently clampedrelationship with said blade spring and said bottom closure.

3. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall sized and shaped to receive said jewel therein throughsaid open top and having inwardly projecting seat means spaced from thetop edge of said peripheral wall for reception of the bottom of saidjewel, said peripheral wall having opposing longitudinally extendingsides having respective slots therein, the top edge of said slots beingspaced substantially below said seat means and the sides of said slotsextending to the bottom edge of said peripheral wall, a bottom closurefor said peripheral wall having a central opening and havinglongitudinally spaced closure slots with said side slots longitudinallybetween said bottom slots, a longitudinally extending blade springwithin said shell spaced below the top of said side slots and extendingbetween said bottom slots and having tabs respectively extended throughsaid bottom slots and bent under said bottom closure, a relativelyflexible longitudinally extending closure strip in said central openingand having a bottom surface coplanar with the bottom surface of saidbottom closure and having tabs respectively extended through saidopening and bent over said bottom closure, and a yoke having legs oneach side of said shell and a crossbar extending between said legs, saidbar substantially square in crosssection, said bar extending throughsaid side slots and between and in tu-rnable and resiliently clampedrelationship with said blade spring and said closure strip.

4. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall sized and shaped to receive said jewel therein throughsaid open top and having inwardly projecting seat means spaced from thetop edge of said shell for reception of the bottom of said jewel inabutting relation thereto, said peripheral wall having opposinglongitudinally extending sides having respective aligned slots extendingto the bottom edge of said peripheral wall, a bottom closure for saidperipheral wall having a central opening extending longitudinally pastsaid side slots and respective end openings, a pair of longitudinallyextending projections projecting from the respective ends of said shelland connected to the peripheral wall of said shell and spaced below saidseat means and above said bottom closure to partially close said endopenings to thereby define longitudinally spaced closure slots in saidbottom closure, a longitudinally extending flexible closure strip insaid central opening having tabs extending into said shell and bent oversaid bottom closure, a longitudinally extending blade spring within saidshell below said seat means and extending between said bottom slots andhaving tabs respectively extended through said bottom slots and bentunder the respective projections so the bottom surface of said tabs arecoplanar with the bottom surface of said bottom closure, and a yokehaving legs on each side of said shell and a crossbar extending betweensaid legs, said bar substantially square in cross-section, said barextending through said side slots and between and in turnable andresiliently clamped relationship with said spring and said flexibleclosure strip.

5. A cuif link comprising a longitudinally extending shell having sidewalls, an open bottom and an open top, a pair of strips extendingtransversely across said bottom and connecting said side walls and beingequally spaced from the mid point of said shell, a pair of coplanarprojections within said shell extending longitudinally from each end ofsaid shell with the longitudinal edges of said projections connected tosaid side wall and defining a slot between the lateral edge of each ofsaid projections and one edge of the respective strips, each side wallhaving a rectangular slot extending from the bottom edge of said wall, alongitudinally extending flexible strip having tabs at the ends thereofin said shell with said tabs bent outwardly under a respectiveprojection to secure said flexible strip in said shell, a closure stripfor the open bottom of said shell, said closure strip having tabs at theend thereof which are bent over a respective strip to secure saidclosure strip in place, inwardly projecting seat means within said shellspaced from the top edge thereof and above the flexible strip forreceiving the bottom of a jewel through the open top of said shell, anda yoke having legs on each side of the shell and a laterally extendingcrossbar between said legs of substantially square cross-section, saidbar being received in said rectangular slots and in turnable andresiliently clamped relationship with said flexible strip and saidclosure strip.

6. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall having top and bottom edges and being sized and shapedto receive a jewel therein through said open top and having inward seatmeans for reception of the bottom of a jewel, said peripheral wallhaving opposing longitudinally extending sides having respective slotsextending to one out of said top and bottom edges of the peripheralwall, a bottom closure for said peripheral wall having longitudinallyspaced bottom closure slots with said side slots longitudinally betweensaid bottom slots, a longitudinally extending blade spring within saidshell below said seat and extending between said bottom slots,complementary fastening elements between the ends of said blade springand said bottom closure for fastening said blade spring to said bottomclosure, and a yoke having legs on each side of said shell and a crossbar extending between said legs, said bar being substantially square incross-section, said bar extending through said side slots and betweenand in turnable and resiliently clamped relationship with said bladespring and said bottom closure.

7. In a toggle finding for a jewel, a shell having an open top, and aperipheral wall having top and bottom edges and being sized and shapedto receive a jewel therein through said open top and having inward seatmeans for reception of the bottom of a jewel, said peripheral wallhaving opposing longitudinally extending sides having respective slotsextending to one out of said top and bottom edges of the peripheralwall, a bottom clo sure for said peripheral wall having longitudinallyspaced bottom closure slots with said side slots longitudinally betweensaid bottom slots, a longitudinally extending blade spring within saidshell below said seat and extending between said bottom slots,cooperating means connecting the ends of said blade spring and saidbottom closure for fastening said blade spring to said bottom closure,and a yoke having legs on each side of said shell and a cross barextending between said legs, said bar being substantially square incross-section, said bar extending through said slots and in turnable andresiliently clamped relationship with said blade spring and said bottomclosure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 281,404 7/1883Searle 24-97 359,648 3/1887 Tillighast a- 24-99 2,472,958 6/1949 Oldak24-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 534,820 1/ 1922 France.

1,146,352 5/1957 France.

15,167 1899 Great Britain. 8,334 2/ 1923 Netherlands.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner.

7. IN A TOGGLE FINDING FOR A JEWEL, A SHELL HAVING AN OPEN TOP, AND APERIPHERAL WALL HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND BEING SIZED AND SHAPEDTO RECEIVE A JEWEL THEREIN THROUGH SAID OPEN TOP AND HAVING INWARD SEATMEANS FOR RECEPTION OF THE BOTTOM OF A JEWEL, SAID PERIPHERAL WALLHAVING OPPOSING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDES HAVING RESPECTIVE SLOTSEXTENDING TO ONE OUT OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF THE PERIPHERALWALL, A BOTTOM CLOSURE FOR SAID PERIPHERAL WALL HAVING LONGITUDINALLYSPACED BOTTOM CLOSURE SLOTS WITH SAID SIDE SLOTS LONGITUDINALLY BEWEENSAID BOTTOM SLOTS, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BLADE SPRING WITHIN SAIDSHELL BELOW SAID SEAT AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM SLOTS,COOPERATING MEANS CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID BLADE SPRING AND SAIDBOTTOM CLOSURE FOR FASTENING SAID BLADE SPRING TO SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE,AND A YOKE HAVING LEGS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SHELL AND A CROSS BAREXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, SAID BAR BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE INCROSS-SECTION, SAID BAR EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOTS AND IN TURNTABLEAND RESILIENTLY CLAMPED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID BLADE SPRING AND SAIDBOTTOM CLOSURE.